PEASANT farmers in Kasama Central’s Bululu ward have accused United Party for National Development (UPND) vice-president for administration Geoffrey Mwamba of compelling them to sell maize to him at K50 per 50kg bag.
The farmers told the Zambia Daily Mail at Petamina satellite depot in Bululu ward that they sold their maize to Mr Mwamba at K50 per 50kg bag because they were in a desperate situation.
One of the farmers, Mulenga Chishimba, said he regretted selling his maize to Mr Mwamba following President Lungu’s directive to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) to increase the purchase price of maize from K70 to K75 per 50kg bag.
“We are the ones at a loss because we were made to sell the maize cheaply,” Mr Chishimba said.
Another farmer, Edrick Kasapo, said he is not happy that despite Mr Mwamba buying the maize at such a low price, he had allegedly not yet paid them.
And Patrick Chishimba said he would not manage to buy farm inputs for the next farming season because he sold his produce at a loss.
“They told us that Government has no money to buy our maize and that we should sell it to them at K50 for a 50kg bag,” he said.
And Bernard Mukantemwa, the transporter and coordinator for the farmers at Petamina satellite depot, said over 80 people have allegedly not yet been paid for the maize supplied to Mr Mwamba.
But Mr Mwamba dismissed the allegations as a fabrication because he has not yet started buying maize.
“Go to Bululu in Kasama and find out if I have bought any maize there,” he said.
Mr Mwamba claimed that his weight is being felt in Kasama.
But PF member Father Frank Bwalya said that small-scale farmers are allegedly being compelled to sell the maize to Mr Mwamba at K50 as they are made to believe that Government would not buy the maize.
“I came from Kasama and I can confirm that GBM is buying maize at K50 per 50kg bag,” Fr Bwalya charged in an interview yesterday.
He charged that Mr Mwamba had been buying maize at K50 per 50kg bag from farmers even before the FRA announced the purchase price of K70.
“I was even forced to go on radio to help people from being exploited,” he said.
Fr Bwalya said PF is against exploitation of the poor.
He also urged farmers in Kasama and other parts of the country to sell their maize to FRA or any other buyers offering a good price.
Ati my weight is being felt?
Then why are you appealing?
Good question. Maybe he’s referring to his real weight
Ba LT reporting as if GBM stole the maize from the farmers? If he bought @ k50 before the market price was announced ( which is just days ago) then what is the issue here? Will you call ACC to investigate him? Mind you government had to wait from March( harvest time) to August just to announce the floor price and you expect the poor farmers with children going back to school not to sell?
He has done nothing wrong, the people weren’t FORCED to sell to him, they could have decided against selling to him and gone to FRA
No story here, if anything GBM did the farmers a favor.
This is all about discrediting Mr Mwamba with the bye election coming up for me, it is a non story and smell BS all over. The non elite condemning GBM are 1diots here.
I don’t particularly like GBM but you should be able to see through that, with this dodgy zambia daily mail reporting. They are being paid to discredit him because of what is coming to them.
Thanks
BB2014
Jail him and throw away the key!
This is a purely business decision. GBM is just one of the many potential buyers, who bid for the maize. If a farmer does not feel like selling (as some clever ones have done) s/he will hold on to their maize until someone offers a better price.
Why blame GBM when he’s just being a businessman. The government took forever to announce the floor price of maize. Those who who could negotiate took advantage of the lack of clarity in the maize market. This August and the price could have been announced in April.
GBM has not bought the maize.According to the farmers quoted in the story,GBM has not paid them a single ngwee for the maize he has collected.This is the character of GBM that some of us know him about.Even to these farmers,he will be paying them in small installments.Let us wait and see if those who have delivered their maize to him will have their money paid all at once.
Why are they complaining when nobody forced them to sale. Farmers in Zambia are not so clever, they know govt takes a long time to pay them once they have sold their produce. SO they instead sale to briefcase businessmen and women like GBM. Nobody forces them to sale but the condition and love of quick bucks. Do not simply sale to anyone and wait for FRA period!
@ observer, very correct. But the blame should be on Fr Bwalya who wants to make political mileage on everything even pure business transactions. Also, I hate how this father has forgoten how GBM helped him through during his difficult days. Politics should not make us black mail even our good friends. I am totally disgusted because I know where these two are coming from.
K50 spot cash GBM or K75 unkown date (8 to 12 months) FRA sankaniponi daddy
GBM is not in breach of anything.. 1 He buys cash and instantly unlike Goverment that will take one year to pay farmers over a twenty kwacha difference. 2. There was no price fixed by Govermnt untill three days ago. 3. Goverment through Lubinda indicated that it was not ready to buy the maiz and that it was Government’s responsibility to do so. So GBM was right and its business and not by force.
In politics , what GBM has done is called hypocrisy. What is he and his friends saying about the maize prices by FRA? As someone aspiring to lead Zambia , he must walk whatever he talks about otherwise Kambwili is right by stating that GBM and his newfound friend are just money lovers. The so called Maize price is for FRA , also includes other crops such as rice and beans. Eg rice by FRA is about K70 per 50kg bag but in open market its fetching k250 per 50kg bag, so where can you sell your bag of rice? Currently ,there is no clear maize marketing policy , therefore anyone is free to suggest to agriculture ministry a Maize policy.
GBM is not in breach of anything.. 1 He buys cash and instantly unlike Goverment that will take one year to pay farmers over a twenty kwacha difference. 2. There was no price fixed by Govermnt untill three days ago. 3. Goverment through Lubinda indicated that it was not ready to buy the maiz and that it was Government’s responsibility to do so. So GBM was right and its business and not by force. No dear we have power, thanks
LT, this is just cheap politics. No one forced those farmers to sell their maize to GBM. Are there no important issues of national importance to report?
So one of the ways he gets rich and even wants to go to plot one. This fat Albert is useless and hence making UPND the same
Cheap politics for cheap minds!
This is folly …GBM is a Miller someone else will buy for cash…if you want to wait for FRA who pays by cheque and risk your maize rotting or eaten by pests its your choice.
Zambians we need to wake up and diversify our diet..this over dependence on maize only benefits the elite like GBM and Co moreover maize is not even nutritious as yam, cassava, millet etc….time to act now…look at what happened with putting all our eggs in hydro-electricity?
Wake up!!
At least he pays cash, if you complain sell your maize to FRA who will pay you in January.
in fact no news here
If gbm pays cash why are farmers complaining that they have not yet been paid by gbm for their produce?
This is broad daylight theft from UPND administrator.I now believe that HH nd GBM have acquired thier wealth dishonestly.Upnd,u call this business.Where is morality,integrity and fairness?These re the pipo aspiring to form Government with this heartless nd ruthless attitude,it will never happen!No wonder they re too arrogant and cold hearted.HH nd GBM re not presidential matterials for sure!May the ‘two rich fools’ remain in the opposition.
Foolish talk were they compelled to sell the maize.They sold maize willingly and then they say they are at a loss this pure dullness where someone cant understand that the value of K1 today is more than the value of K1 tommorrow
Foolish talk were they compelled to sell the maize.They sold maize willingly and then they say they are at a loss this is pure dullness where someone cant understand that the value of K1 today is more than the value of K1 tommorrow
What is wrong with him buying 50kg bag at K50.00. Am seeing no problem with that, is he the government? In fact he did well because it was cash and carry than the poor government which is busy banking farmers money and it takes 3 months unpaid.
Oh come on! It is a free market and by definition, a price can be negotiated between two willing parties. Also, back to contract law, it a valid contract. Considerations need be adequate but not necessarily sufficient.
News from Kasama says GBM is not buying maize himself but his ba kaponyas.
They are buying cheaply so that they can distribute it either freely or selling it at half price during campaigns. Mambala ali mu chibe, tale lala.
Politics!!! GBM should just admit and ask what is wrong with him buying a bag of maize at K50??? He offered they accepted – deal was sealed. It is a clear contract between GBM and the farmers.
Of course now it is political. Why would a guy, who wants to win an election in 2016, buy maize cheaper than govt? Is he taking advantage of the poor he pretends to want to serve? He is not worth being in politics – he is a capitalist to the core…
…that is Called Politics!! And we are very good at it in Zambia.
When was the floor price announced you mambala?
WE KNOW GBM HE DOES NOT PAY HIS WORKERS SO FOR THOSE THAT HAVE SOLD THE MAIZE TO HIM HE WILL EVEN BEAT THEM UP THAT’S GBM THE MAN WHO CLAIMS TO BE RICH SHAME.
CHISHIMBA FARMERS, PETAMINA AND LWIMBO BE WARNED YOU WILL BE EXPLOITED TO THE LAST DROP OF YOUR BLOOD.
And that is the only dirty 3 bedrooms government house he has in Kasama. This is when he has just put a wall fence boosting nanjala mambala uyu.
Former Fr. Bwalya you are a lier, who did you speak to. GBM is a business man. You mean those who sold the dollar at K6.9 are regretting today because the dollar has gone up ?
Zambian to have a leader like Bwalya is a loss to the national. Ubu ebuwelewele beba. Fr Bwalya Please stop politics you know nothing about farming.
I still dont understand what the problem is in buying maize at 50 kwacha rebased. How many other people have boaught maize outside the FRA price? FRA is not a maize procurement company or NAMBOARD. It just buys enough for reserves. Much of it its the millers like GBM who buys at a negotiated price. Did GBM point a gun at anyone to sale at 50 kwacha?
Every Zambian knows for sure that govt thru FRA buys maize and every year a price is set and time when that crop is bought. Farmers need to b patient and not rush now c, they sold to GBM on credit and he has not yet even paid them. What have they benefited now? Nothing! GBM used false information to persuade farmers to sale maize to him by saying govt won’t buy maize. It’s better to sale at a much higher price on credit than at a cheap on. Who is at loss now? Could it b y they voted in masses in Bululu ward? What benefit have they reaped? GBM hasn’t got the heart for people. It’s like stealing from the poor. God will surely punish such people.
@Aubrey, thats defective analytics. The farmers had a choice, either from GBM or FRA. Now, FRA pays in January and their needs cannot wait that long. In any case, Given had mentioned that Govt would not set the price. Its pressure that forced them to set the price and if I were you, I would throw my mud at the govt (Given) for misleading the farmers.
Nowhere in the report does it say that gbm was buying on cash. Up to date he has not paid anyone and useless upnd cadres are busy yapping that he bought COD.
I smell electro mulpractice in bululu ward where upnd won. There could have been voter buying and cheating. Can police investigate what transpired in bululu ward
Bwalya should go and buy the maize at K70 if he has capacity. As a politician I am sure GBM would by the maize at K70 or is it K75, but as a businessman he will buy it at the lowest price he can get. This is capitalism not socialism. Let the farmers hold on to their maize and sell to FRA, its simple. Is he using a gun to force them to sell to him? Ridiculousness from the ex-priest.
Bwalya should go and buy the maize at K70 if he has capacity. As a politician I am sure GBM would buy the maize at K70 or is it K75, but as a businessman he will buy it at the lowest price he can get. This is capitalism not socialism. Let the farmers hold on to their maize and sell to FRA, its simple. Is he using a gun to force them to sell to him? Ridiculousness from the ex-priest.
imagine if he was president of this country. This man has no morals all he thinks about is profits. We all remember how when he was minister of defence how all his children and relatives were suppliers in the defence force.Zambians need not forget .
FATHER BWALYA AND DAILY NATION MUST BE STUPID.THIS IS NOT NEWS. PF-GIVEN LUBINDA TOLD FARMERS TO SELL THEIR MAIZE TO WHEREVER THEY WANT AT THEIR OWN PRICE.SO WHY SHOULD THE EX-CONVICT TODAY ACCUSE GBM WHO HAS DONE GOOD TO THE PEOPLE.ITS ALSO POOR GOVERNANCE OTHERWISE THEY CUD HAVE ANNOUNCED THE FLOOR PRICE BY APRIL.
Why dont those complaining buy the maize from the farmers at k200? They complain when they are failing to even pay for transport money to geta bag of mealie meal from Shoprite totheir homes. Haters, haters and failures!
The government is ineffective . Stop blaming GBM. Farmers have choice to make.
That’s how GBM became rich. Sometime back when there was a shortage of mealie meal, he issued a cheque to Kasama National Milling. The cheque was domiciled Lusaka and the account had no money,those days it took 21 days for an upcountry cheque to clear.He got paid after 7 days and by the time the cheque hit his account , it was already funded!!!These are the people you want to put in power?
Comment: If he did pulled that one off as you say it, then it was excellent thinking.
l just love people who think outside the box. The supplier was paid and he made a profit. Mind you there was no debt or interest here.
Imagine if it was our government dealing like that we would have avoid debt.
And this is the person UPND has embraced as their VP! Research imwe ba UPND otherwise by the time you realize his intentions it will be too late. We know that HH and GBM cannot be trusted and if they can dribble the peasant farmers whilst in opposition, what can happen if they were in power, God forbid!
HH buys cattle very cheaply from the poor and peasent farmers in Namwala and GBM does the same with maize, this is serious looting and robbing the poor.
Now you understand when we tell you that these people don’t care for you and all they say and promise is only to try and enrich their empires!
On top of it, Fat Albert (GBM) just knows physical confrontation and beating his wife, workers and anyone who challenges him. HH is a dictator who has managed to hoodwink his tribesmen by…
A thrifty businessman will take advantage of opportunities availed to him by government policies. First the Minister of Agriculture advises farmers to sell their maize wherever as government was not going to buy. Then a floor price is fixed valid I guess for the government buying agent and not binding for a market economy that Zambia professes to follow. If GBM takes advantage of the system and loopholes therein why blame him? Zambians are amazing when it comes to deprivation of thinking objectively!
Comment:Very unfortunate pa zed everthing has been politised,leave GBM alone he’s a business man who lives on profit making,afterall briefcase buyers are needed thats how they survive,think business here frank bwalya who’s waitn to be considerd fo a political appointment,sorry this is why zed pipo ar busy crying for foreign investment why ar we failing to support local entrepreneurs like GBM?fisp entire program politised shame thats why yo pf govt has resorted to borrowing so as to cushion local consumption demand verses cadrism of buying voters & defectors
It only becomes rape when one party to the act contests free will. Who hates bargains? In Zed, we even bargain for God’s love and endurance even when we are certain that the almighty’s will is not influenced by the size and frequency of the tithes.
ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL, 26 AUGUST 2015 CAROLINE KALOMBE, Lusaka
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) vice-president for administration Geoffrey Mwamba has maintained that he is still a member of the Patriotic Front (PF) and has asked the High Court to stop Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini from declaring his seat vacant.
Mr Mwamba said he notified Dr Matibini of cases before the courts regarding his membership to the PF and that the Speaker was legitimately expected to refer any questions relating to the vacancy of the Kasama Central parliamentary seat to the High Court.
“At no particular time did I ever cease to be a member of the PF. I was and still am a member of the Patriotic Front (PF) party,” Mr Mwamba said. Those of you who still need HH, not me,…